The choices for buying an Ontario fishing license just became one fewer. Chippewa Inn, on Saganaga Lake, will not be selling licenses this winter since they would be required to have either telephone or Internet capability. Ontario has enacted an automated system, much like Minnesota’s, which will make it hard for many resorts and businesses that are “off the grid” to sell licenses. The Marxens at Chippewa Inn are investigating options and hope to be selling licenses again next year.
Sagonto Resort, located on the same island, will be able to continue selling licenses since they have Internet capability and are set up with the new license-issuing equipment. Sagonto Resort is a nice option for purchasing licenses, as well as bait during the summer months, however they are closed from Friday afternoon through Saturday. If you would like to get information on purchasing licenses via mail, you can call the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources at 1-800- 667-1940 or visit their website for online options.
I recently received a notice to renew my Ontario Outdoors Card, which anglers are required to have for purchasing their fishing license. The card should be carried with you while fishing and must be renewed every year. The intent of the card is to make the licensing process easier, and I would imagine that in most situations it does just that, especially with the online service available.
The Minnesota Boundary Waters lake trout season opens on Saturday, December 31 and many people are worried about the snow conditions. It is very hard to predict the weather up here, but I can tell you that all of the lakes that are entirely within the B-Dub should have safe amounts of ice. We are currently drilling through 10 to 12 inches of solid ice.
How much snowfall we will get by then is anyone’s guess, and right now we still do not have enough for good snowmobiling.
Every year a few anglers get themselves into trouble on the opener due to misinterpretations of the rules. I know that it is confusing, but you are responsible for knowing them. The B-Dub opener on the 31st is for lake trout, not stream trout, and the lake you choose to fish has to be entirely within the Boundary Waters. Lakes that are partially within do not allow angling for lake trout until the 14th. Sea Gull and Saganaga are good examples of lakes that are partially in the B-Dub. It is always a good idea to review the rule book every season since the rules do occasionally change, and we host a couple of special regulation lakes in our area as well.
Last year the B-Dub opener was a miserable 20 degrees below zero and windy. I fished on Duncan Lake and my party only lasted a couple of hours. We did get checked by the game warden, who told us that very few people were braving the frigid weather that day. That was the nice way of saying, “You guys are nuts!”
I suspect the weather might be nicer this year. Most of the resorts have reopened for the winter season and everyone is praying for more snow. Rachelle got me a new pair of snow shoes for Christmas this year and I cannot wait to try them out. I don’t mind hiking across snow covered lakes, as long as there is a fishing rod in my hands. Cory Christianson has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If you have any fishing or wildlife reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@hotmail.com or call 218- 388-0315. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
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